JOHNS: Healthy reports can make us a bit woozy

Sunday

Dec 22, 2013 at 3:45 AM

According to a recent O-D story, New York rates as the 15th healthiest state in the nation. The story cited a report by the United Health Foundation which looked at healthy behaviors among other criteria.

Ron Johns

According to a recent O-D story, New York rates as the 15th healthiest state in the nation. The story cited a report by the United Health Foundation which looked at healthy behaviors among other criteria.

That doesn't sound so bad. In fact, we should be proud. Cut out smog-laden New York City from the report and I bet we would crack the top 10.

But read a little further into the story and we're reminded that a recent county health ranking placed Oneida County as 50th in the state. There are only 62 counties in the state. Still feeling good about our health?

That ranking was released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. It put Oneida County above state average for smoking and obesity rates.

Frankly, I don't pay much attention to these reports anymore. I can't keep them straight. One brings us up one day and another brings us down the next.

I don't need a study to verify what I can see all around me. For the majority, our national lifestyle is grossly unhealthy and getting worse.

With all that we know about smoking, I can drive anywhere in the city and see workers lined up taking a quick smoke break. With all that we know about a healthy Body Mass Index, our fast-food drive-throughs can't push the cars through fast enough (they're not all getting a McSalad).

So where does our health really stand as a society?

For our kids, junk food is the norm with a side of TV and video games for dessert.

For adults, fast food often makes the menu for lunch in a work environment where we sit all day, sipping soda or coffee to stay awake. When the clock ticks to 5 p.m., we unwind by plopping ourselves in front of the TV.

Enter the winter season, and our sedate lifestyle just gets worse.

Before you start writing that email to me, I know that there are many people who pride themselves on living a healthy life. I see them every day as well – choosing healthy foods, exercising ¬¬at the gym, running or talking long brisk walks to get the heart pumping. And I know we don't all have 9-to-5 jobs sitting behind a PC. Waitresses and mechanics for example, barely get a moment to sit all day.

It's just that it's no longer atypical. And the studies are there to prove it.

Today's world breeds an unhealthy lifestyle and it takes self-determination and self control to overcome the bad habits. There's so much working against us and it appears as though the majority of us are giving in.

Evolution never had Big Macs and a desk job in mind until just recently. And, as always, survival of the fittest will come into play. I imagine that I will see a headline stating that the average lifespan has dropped before I see a headline stating that we've become a healthier nation.

So bring on the new health studies. I suppose I will continue to read them as long as the headlines draw me in and I will continue to be confused when the next one rolls around in contradiction.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I promised to treat myself to a pizza if I finished this column by 5 p.m. But don't worry; I'll work it off at the gym tomorrow.

Ron Johns is the managing editor for the Observer-Dispatch. Contact him at rjohns@uticaod.com